My #1 Tool for Making Decisions

"I'll think it through."

How often do we say, hear or think that? 

In our society, the intellect is king. We are taught not to make emotional decisions, to wait until we're in a rational thinking space, to make sure we've weighed the pros and cons of important decisions.

And there is merit to looking at both sides of a decision, being calm and using our brains.

But we don't often hear about the drawbacks of making an intellectual decision.

Our intellects often process decisions according to other peoples' standards.

For example, according to our societal standards, the best job for you might be one where you can earn enough to afford a house in the nicest neighborhood, drive a fancy car and go on vacation each year.

But the best job for YOU might be one where you feel inspired, alive and like you're living your true purpose, regardless of the paycheck.

What we're not often told is that the mind has a flaw. It works based on past programming, much like a computer. If the software hasn't been upgraded - given different tools for decision making - it will continue to make decisions in the same ways it has in the past. Which may or may not be working for you.

It's time to step into a new paradigm of decision making. Leading with the heart. 

Did you know that the heart has 40,000 neurons? That it can work in close partnership with the brain to share information? 

We can tap into the tremendous wisdom of the heart by acknowledging it as an authority in our lives.

Our heart taps into our core knowing, our body's innate wisdom system, which contains the subconscious information that our brains may have talked us out of believing.

For example, our heart will know when a job is not right for us, no matter how good it looks on paper. It will know when a relationship with a given person is in our best interest. And so on.

The best way to tap into our heart's wisdom is by re-familiarizing ourselves with our heart space. If you haven't already, try this Heart Opening Meditation. 

Then, next time you're making a decision, large or small, move your awareness into your heart space.
Ask: how would it feel to make this decision? Note your body's reaction. 
Then: how would it feel to make the opposite decision. Take note again.

The heart shares its knowledge with us in many ways, but the most obvious ones are bodily sensations. A feeling of discomfort, panic or unease indicates a poor fit. A feeling of harmony or excitement is a green light, even if there's a bit of apprehension mixed in, as often happens when we stretch our boundaries.

The heart isn't a familiar authority to many of us, but once we reestablish our relationship with it, we'll find ourselves in touch with an inner guru to rival the very best minds on the planet.

Have fun, and please share your experiences in the comments! <3

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